Chess puzzles for Friday, 8 January 2027
Three new puzzles every day: easy, medium and hard. Try each one before you open the solution.
Easy: White to move and mate in 1
White to move and mate in 1. The opponent just played 62... Kxh5.
Puzzle rating 861
Hint
Theme: mate in 1, rook endgame, endgame tactic
Show solution
63. Rh7#
FEN: 8/3R4/5p2/5K1k/1r6/3p4/8/8 w - - 0 63
Medium: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 45... Qc7.
Puzzle rating 1829
Hint
Theme: interference, exposed king, endgame tactic
Show solution
46. Qf8+ Kd7 47. Qxf7+ Kc8 48. Qxc7+
FEN: 3k4/2q2p2/1p3P2/3KPp2/PQ1P4/1P4r1/8/8 w - - 6 46
Hard: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 29. Qxd6.
Puzzle rating 2423
Hint
Theme: skewer, queenside attack, endgame tactic
Show solution
29... Qf5+ 30. Qd3 Qxd3+ 31. Rxd3 Ra1+ 32. Kc2 Rxg1
FEN: r5k1/r4pp1/3Q3p/4p1q1/8/1PP2P2/1P4PP/1K1R2R1 b - - 0 29